Review: Blackberry Q10
Technology does not stop at one achievement for long. It moves on to soar higher and present something even better. The market for smart phones is growing and thriving at present. With so many different OS and brands working their best to meet customer demands, Blackberry is facing the vital question of survival. There was a time when BBM excited the young crowd and owning a Blackberry meant that you have joined the conversation. With so many chatting apps available for free, the relevance of BBM is being doubted. However, regular Blackberry users will tell you otherwise. To make its niche in the smart phone market, Blackberry launched two different sort of smart phone one after another. The second to be launched, Q10 is unique and stands apart from other smart phones, offering a physical keyboard to conventional users.
Design and display
The Blackberry Q10 looks a lot like the Blackberry Bold 9900 from outside though it promises a much better punch for the users. It is shorter in length than the Z10 and also narrower. The narrowness makes the Q10 easy to hold on to. The back is glass-weave and made of a material similar to carbon-fiber. The soft touch back cover will give satisfaction to your palms and won’t let it slip from your grip easily. The screen is only 3.1 inch big. The Q10 is also 10.35 mm thick. Unlike the grey black version the white bodied one has a rubberized back cover. It comes off smoothly and shows the battery and micro SD expansion slot. You will be getting a 720X720 pixel density. The smaller screen size has gracefully increased the pixel density, improving the picture quality. You will love reading your mails and chatting with friends via this phone. The Q10 offers a Super AMOLED screen that makes the screen view sharper.
Processors, OS and Hardware
The Q10 has got an OS upgrade, shifting to Blackberry OS 10.1 from OS 10. The change is not staggering or surprising. There are a few changes and the bug and malware problems have been fixed further. One should read more about the new OS 10.1 before buying Q10 or else they might get disappointed. Among other nice features the Remember app is worth mentioning as it helps you take swift notes and works along with Evernote. The new OS also offers a Blackberry Hub, which helps the busy workaholics keep in touch with their social networking contacts by bringing together Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor gives smooth performance. The 2 GB RAM is good enough for professional usage. Though the primary internal storage capacity is just 16 GB, users can stretch it up to 64 GB for storing their work projects and games. The users who will opt for Q10 will be taking it around the world so the 2,100 mAH battery may not suffice. More international roaming, Wi-Fi and 3G usage means sturdier battery is needed. One of the good things about the phone is that it is hardy and robust. There is little chance of it getting damaged by slipping off your hands. The apps you get with Android might be missing here.
Keypad
It is tough to decide whether Blackberry has taken a wise or a reckless step by introducing the QWERTY keypad in their flagship smart phone. This phone embodies the spirit of all the Blackberry phones we have come across over the year. The keypad no doubt helps in fast typing and texting and is useful. One hand and five fingers are enough for sending mails with the Q10. The predictive text enables users to make the typing even faster. Virtual keypads can be swifter but users who are still not used to it will find this one comforting.
Camera
The 8 MP rear camera is definitely not one of the Q10’s strong points, especially at its market price. A better camera was expected from Blackberry because at the same price range its competitors like Samsung and Apple are offering better rear cameras. The Front camera gives 2 MP. The rear camera has a LED flash and takes decent snaps. As mostly the executives and entrepreneurs use Blackberry, the camera will probably not bother such users; however, for the young and hip crowd, Blackberry needs to plan something extra. The pictures taken in low light are not clear or bold enough.
Android users may be reluctant to switch to Blackberry but for the die-hard Blackberry fans the Q10 is a great new option. The design will not make your friends gush because they have seen it before as well but the Q10 will enhance your work in the go capability. The Q10 is overpriced but if price is not what bothers you then you should definitely opt for this one.